Plant jet juice should not bear names directly referring to animals, such as “vegetable chicken” or “vegan pork”. The Federal Court admitted the appeal of the Confederation against a Zurich manufacturer of vegan products. Terms like “steak” or “sausage”, however, remain authorized.
Following an appeal to the U Federal Department of the Interior, the 2nd Court of Public Law canceled on Friday a decision of the administrative court of Zurich, which believed, unlike the cantonal laboratory, that the use of animal breed names for ersatz vegan meat was eligible.
For the majority of judges, the expressions “Planted Chicken”, “like chicken” or “like pork”, used by the company Planted Foods for its meat ersatz from pea proteins, are misleading for the consumer.
A delay must be fixed at Planted Foods, based in Kemptthal (ZH), so that it renames its products.
-The “soy sausages” remain authorized
To rule, the Federal Court has greatly referred to European legislation and case law. Indeed, Switzerland came close to it when revising the food for food in 2017.
The four majority judges recalled that, even if the rules are very technical, the principle prevails that a food which is not made from meat products cannot receive the name of an animal. Thus, a cereal steak will not be called “beef steak”. It is not the same for modes of preparation as minced, sausage or steak. It is therefore eligible to offer for sale “soy sausages”, “cereal minced” or “lentil steaks”.
One of the magistrates stressed that the disputed names have a commercial purpose. They are not only intended for vegan consumers but also to other customers that it is to convince by suggesting that the product offered is equivalent to meat. In this context, the objective of protection against deception and confusion is of particular importance.
>> The interview in Forum by Rebecca Eggenberger, Food specialist at the French Consumer Federation. ::
HKR with ATS
